THE UST Golden Tigresses came up short against the defending champions NU Lady Bulldogs in Game 1 of the best-of-three 2023 Shakey’s Super League Pre-Season Championship finals, 25-21, 16-25, 19-25, 17-25, at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum on Friday, Nov. 10.
Trailing by eight in the fourth salvo, 12-4, the Tigresses cut the deficit to four after four straight points capped by a Cassie Carballo drop ball that forced the Lady Bulldogs to call a timeout.
NU responded with a game-sealing 13-9 run to inch closer to retaining its title.
UST started hot, pummeling NU with 17 attack points in the first frame to draw first blood, 25-21. This also marked the first time in the tournament where the Lady Bulldogs dropped a set.
Both teams fielded reserves early in the second set, but it was the Lady Bulldogs who finished strong, pulling away with a 14-6 run en route to a 25-16 set victory.
With the game tied at 9-all in the third set, the Lady Bulldogs broke the deadlock and pulled away with a 16-10 blitz to take a two-sets-to-one lead.
“Nasa finals na ang UST so doon pa lang mayroon na tayong na-achieve,” UST head coach Emilio “Kung Fu” Reyes told the Varsitarian. “Pero kailangan pa rin natin lumaban at i-correct lahat ng mga naging pagkukulang natin ngayong Game 1 para makapagbigay pa ng mas magandang laban.”
UST rookie Angeline Poyos paced the Tigresses with 13 points, while sophomores Regina Jurado and Jonna Perdido scored 12 and 11 markers, respectively.
Alyssa Solomon led NU with 15 markers, while Vange Alinsug and Bella Belen chipped in 13 markers apiece.
The Tigresses will try to force a do-or-die against the Lady Bulldogs in Game 2 tomorrow, Nov. 11, 5 p.m. at the same venue.
